ParcAberporth

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ParcAberporth is a technology park created on what was Royal Air Force (RAF) station Aberporth, near the village of that name in the county of Ceredigion, Wales. The station was one of two local sites that had been used as a base for a missile range that stretched out for some miles into the nearby Cardigan Bay. This Danger Area still exists and is known as Danger Area D201. Since the RAF left, the testing facilities at nearby Parcllyn, are operated by QinetiQ, and the old RAF camp at Blaenannerch (now recreated as ParcAberporth) is owned by the Welsh Assembly Government. The runway and surrounding land is owned by businessman Ray Mann, who operates West Wales Airport, which is next to ParcAberporth.

ParcAberporth was created by the Welsh Development Agency, (which in 2006, merged in to the Welsh Assembly Government) to utilise the facilities and skills in the area. It has been focused as an operational test and evaluation centre for Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). One of the main difficulties in getting a wider acceptance of UAVs in civilian and commercial use has been integrating unmanned flights with existing aviation. Work at ParcAberporth and West Wales Airport has been possible as a 6 nautical mile radius around the airfield has been designated Restricted airspace - Temporary (RA(T)) up to 5000 feet allowing UAVs to operate without special dispensation.

Since 2004, ParcAberporth is the site for an annual event of exhibition and conference devoted to the UAV industry.